Americans are using artificial intelligence tools in growing numbers while trusting them less, according to a Quinnipiac University poll of nearly 1,400 adults reported by TechCrunch in March 2026. The survey found 76 percent of respondents say they trust AI rarely or only sometimes, compared with 21 percent who trust it most or almost all of the time.

Adoption is moving the opposite direction. Only 27 percent said they have never used AI tools, down from 33 percent in April 2025, and 51 percent reported using AI for research, with writing, work tasks, and data analysis also common uses. Quinnipiac computer science professor Chetan Jaiswal called the contradiction between use and trust striking, saying Americans are adopting AI with deep hesitation rather than deep trust.

The poll recorded broader unease as well. Eighty percent of respondents said they are very or somewhat concerned about AI, while just 6 percent described themselves as very excited. Fifty-five percent said AI will do more harm than good in their daily lives. Seventy percent expect AI advances to reduce job opportunities, up from 56 percent a year earlier, and 65 percent said they would not want an AI data center built in their community, citing electricity costs and water use.

Two-thirds of respondents said businesses are not doing enough to be transparent about their AI use, a sentiment researchers linked to a year of high-profile AI failures and layoffs.

Source: TechCrunch -- https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/30/ai-trust-adoption-poll-more-americans-adopt-tools-fewer-say-they-can-trust-the-results/